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Smith College is a residential college and
as such requires continuation of services for students regardless of weather conditions.
Those departments and offices which provide essential services must continue operations
during adverse weather conditions; other departments will continue to provide services
whenever possible. College departments are responsible for defining “essential
services” and for developing plans and procedures to provide essential services
during adverse weather conditions and other emergencies.
The Vice President for Finance and Administration and the Executive Director of Facilities Management are responsible for determining when adverse weather conditions warrant
an early closing or delayed opening of the college. Individual department heads and
supervisors are not authorized to make unilateral delayed opening or early closing
decisions in the absence of a college-wide notice.
Delayed Opening
When heavy snow or freezing rain falls overnight, the college may decide
to open administrative and academic offices later than usual. However, to minimize
the disruption in departmental services, employees are encouraged to report prior
to the delayed opening whenever it is possible to do so without significant risk.
Early Closing
When a decision to close early is made, the Office of Human Resources will
notify each department of the time of the official closing and a Campus News e-mail
announcement will be sent out. The INFO Line (413-585-INFO) will also carry a recorded
message.
Attendance and Pay Procedures
When College Operations Are Not Curtailed: On occasion, adverse
weather conditions may cause you to be concerned about travel safety. In such cases,
you need to make your own judgment about whether to stay home, arrive late, or, after
consultation with your supervisor, leave early. If you expect to be late or are unable
to report to work at all, you must notify your supervisor as soon as possible.
Staff members who stay home, arrive late, or leave early
due to adverse weather conditions must use personal time, vacation time, or excused
time without pay to cover their absence. Where schedules permit, the missed hours
may be made up during the same work week.
When College Operations Are Curtailed: Occasionally
the college may decide to open administrative and academic offices late, close early,
or cancel nonessential services entirely due to adverse weather conditions. Under
these circumstances, excused time with pay will be granted.
Any excused time with pay granted as a result of a delayed
opening or early closing is available only to those staff members who report for
work or who are still at work at the time the early closing is announced.
Staff who are not at work because of vacation, personal
days, illness, or other scheduled absences when these situations occur must use the
full day of vacation, personal time, etc., as planned.
Announcements of Curtailed Operations
The Smith College information line will carry a recorded message if there
are changes in office opening or closing times.
NOTE: The information line
is the only official source of weather emergency information.
Smith College Information Line: (413) 585-INFO (4636) (after 6 a.m.)
In addition, the following media stations will be notified
of official delayed openings or cancellations.
Radio Stations:
- WHMP (Northampton) 1400 AM/99.3 FM
- WFCR (Amherst) 88.5 FM
- WHYN (Springfield) 93.1 FM
Television Stations:
- WWLP-TV Channel 22
- WGGB-TV Channel 40
Each employee is responsible for obtaining the necessary
information regarding delayed openings or cancellations. |
